Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-05-11
LION FIGHTING.
A Duel in Algeria Between Male
Beasts.

Only those who have experienced it
can realize the excitement caused by
witnessing a hand to hand conflict be-
tween two savage, untamed beasts. L
have witnessed bull-fights in Mexico
and seen python crush the life out of
a calf in South America, but never
gazed on more thrilling episode than
on one hot Algerian night at a water
pool about 200 miles in the interior.
Beside the pool were several trees of
fair size, in the branches of one of which
had been placed small platform hid
den among the clustered leaves, from
which hiding place it was convenient to
shoot any animals that might come to
the pool to drink during the night.
Thither repaired one evening soon after
sundown, Maccovoy and myself, accom-
panied by his Arab servant, young
fellow named Asilla, who bore our spare
guns and acted rs general factotum to
us both on expeditions of this nature.
1t is difficult for me, in my cooler mo-
ments, to climb tree and the smooth,
straight stem proved extremely trouble
some to swarm. However, with the
help of Mac and Asilla, l managed it
and secured comfortable perch. They
followed with great facility, being both
slight, active men and at once made the
guns ready.
The moon rose gradually and had a
good opportunity to study perfect
silence. Nothing can be more deeply
silent than still night in the desert.
As there is little or no vegetation on
these vast oceans of sand, there is no
insect life and for several hours after
the moon rose absolute silence reigned.
We did not speak. There was no living
thing in that widespread expanSe of
country. was beginning to feel sleepy
and nod frequently when a prolonged
roar sounded close at hand. In an in
slant we were wide awake and grasped
our guns nervously. At the next instant
the roar was answered from location
Immediately beneath us. On looking
down we saw lioness, lying on her
belly, her head between her paws and
her long tail waving luxuriously to and
fro. She looked like huge cat enjoy !
ing some pleasurable sensation. Almost !
instantly third woofl wOofi wOofl |
sounded at our backs. 'Gad, Doc!'' |
DItdtIlcU AndC, VIC hlc III lOA d Ddy w. /
night!'' and moment later two mag
nifcent males stepped slowly and ma
jestically into view. The female con-
tinued to purr and wave her tail gently. |
AS soon as the two lions spied each
other they prepared for action. Slowly |
and carefully they neared each other,
the lioneSs meanwhile watching them as
a cat does mouse. Closer and closer |
they drew, while we, spellbound, reser-
we'd our fire to witness the terrible duel
that was impending.
And now they crouch and with MT
tual roars of rage spring at each other
and, meeting in midleap, fall, biting
and tearing to the earth, We can hear
their bones crush between their power
full jaws like egg shells beneath mans
boot heel. The liOneSs, maintaining her
tranquil attitude, watched the conflict,
as it seemed to my excited eyes, with a
devilish smile on her face. Over and
over they rolled, while the sickening
sonnd of champing bones filled the air,
their frantic roaring and the movement
of their bodies rs they thrashed through
the whirling sand. BY this time my
nerves were SO wrought up that l could